Some Macintosh Tips compiled from various sources (5/8/99)
Date: Sat, 8 May 1999 14:37:26 -0500
To: Mac Users
WHY 1956?????Back to Macintosh IdeasSo why do different Macs reset to different dates?-----
Most Macs reset to Aug 27th, 1956. As it turns out, this is the birthdate of one of the designers, Ray Montagne, who apparently designed the CUDA microcontroller. This chip controls the PRAM and ADB on many models. Peter Werner found that information on the Nov 95 MacUser Help folder.
By the way, Steve Jobs was born in 1955, so the date is not his birthday. Other Macs reset to the default date - the date that the clock shows when the clock registers are filled with zeros. The date is Jan 1, 1904.
Rick Holzgrafe tells why some Macs reset to 1904 - the question was "What is the default date if the clock contains all zeros?" His answer:It's midnight, Jan 1, 1904. This date was selected because the original Mac's clock (which counts in seconds) can encompass a period of about 136 years. Selecting 1904 as the start date means that the 136-year period covered by the clock (1904-2040) includes the birthdate of nearly every Mac user, and extends well past the expected lifetime of the Mac OS. It also means that the simplest rule for leap-years can be used (every fourth year has an extra day), which simplifies day and date calculations. They didn't choose the year 1900 because it was not a leap year, and so would have complicated matters.NOTE: IF YOUR MAC RESETS TO THE 1956 DATE, YOU NEED A NEW BATTERY
OS 8'S FILE TRICKSIn case you haven't noticed the title bar on every open OS 8.x file window has a Folder icon next to the title.-------
Dragging this icon anywhere on your computer will move the original folder to that new location.
As an added special feature holding down the "Option" key while dragging the folder will make a copy of that folder in the new location.
Also, holding down the Command and Option keys while dragging the folder will make a shortcut (ALIAS) to the folder in the new location.
TAKE A PICTUREIf you're running MacOS 8.x then the screen grabbing functionality is greatly improved:----cmd+shift+3 = Picture of screen to file cmd+ctrl+shift+3 = Picture of screen to clipboard cmd+shift+4 = Picture of drag area to file cmd+ctrl+shift+4 = Picture drag area to clipboard cmd+shift+capslock+4 = Picture of window to file cmd+ctrl+shift+capslock+4 = Picture of window to clipboard
NICE CLEAN DESKTOP?Some people move the trash can up by the hard drive icon. It's just easier to reach there, and much easier to use to eject disks. If you still like the traditional location of the trash, make an alias of it, and place it back in the lower right corner. Too much of a good thing?????-----
You do remember that you can hide the foremost application by option-clicking on the desktop, don't you?
In most applications (but not all) the shift left-arrow will highlight the previous letter. This is handy for corrections and macros.
WOW!!! NETWORKS ARE BECOMING POPULAR AT HOME TOO!!Great sites for Network information (for the technical minded person)----
http://www.macledge.com/netgames/
http://www.farallon.com/machome/homenet.html/
Other Games
http://home.t-online.de/home/mcsebi/index.html
One of the best sites for games or any other software for the mac (visit often)
http://www.pure-mac.com/
SPEAK TO YOUR COMPUTER........Try this MacOS 8.5 users. This trick allows you to open your favorite bookmarks with your voice. That's right, surfing the Internet with your voice. How cool can that be!
1. Type http://www.websitenamehere.com in SimpleText, BBEdit or stickies.----
2. Select the entire URL and drag it to your Desktop or better yet, a folder named bookmarks.
3. Select the URL icon, change the name from www.websitenamehere.com to something shorter, like, websitenamehere.
4. Again select the icon, say "Computer, make this speakable." (Assuming Speakable Items in the Speech Control Panel is activated and you name your speech assistant Computer.)
5. Then,when you're surfing the net, if you want to get to your favorite sites, just say their names.
For example, say, "Computer, MacHome, please" and your web browser will instantly take you there.
My grandson would play tricks on me by saying "Computer, xxxxxx" and take control of my computer while I was using it so I changed the attention command (in the Speech Control Panel) to the Escape Key rather than the spoken "Computer" command
HOW TO KEEP YOUR COMPUTER "UP AND RUNNING".1. Rebuild the desktop about once a month.-----
2. Every two days, run Disk First Aid to see if directories are messed up. If they are, then reboot and use DiskWarrior (or Norton Disk Doctor) to rebuild them.
Some people don't shut off their machine except for 10 minutes once every week or two and use Conflict Catcher 8 to track what has been added to the system, after running an installer. The frequent on/off is harder on sensitive computer parts than the extended "time on".3. Don't run every new init in the world.
4. Backup with religious fervor.
5. Run Font Agent to make sure fonts aren't corrupted about every two months.
6. About once a year (if at all) optimize your drives (AFTER a backup!).
7. Stay updated with the latest version of all your software.
8. If you crash (much less frequent with OS 8), worry about it, and try to find the source of the problem, immediately if possible.
9. With rare exceptions, don't run beta software.
10. An uninterruptable power supply would be a nice addition.Good Work Habits:
1. Quit Applications when finished - especially "online" programs - Don't just close windows! You might save yourself some money if the computer automatically goes online for some auto-session - Remember the computer will only go "online" if it is turned on and an online Application is active!)
2. Restart when finished with a work/game session to reset the computer RAM memory!
DO YOU HAVE AN OLDER STYLEWRITER LIKE I HAVE?http://www.apple.ca/product/ds/InkJetSuppliesL.html-------
Ink Compatibility:StyleWriter I, II, StyleWriter 1200 Portable StyleWriter -- Inks compatible with Canon BJ-100, BJ-200, BJ-200e, and Canon Fax-B340 Color StyleWriter 1500 -- Inks compatible with Canon BJC-200 Series Color StyleWriter 2400 and 2500 -- Standard inks compatible with Canon BJC 4000 Series; PhotoGrade inks compatible with Canon BJC-4200, and BJC-4550 Color StyleWriter Pro -- Inks compatible with Canon BJC-600 Series, Tektronix Phaser 140 Apple Color Printer -- Inks compatible with Canon BJC-800, Lexmark 4079
ARE YOU AWARE OF SPRING LOADED FOLDERS?Drag an item on top of a folder and hold it there for the folder to open.------
or
Drag an item on top of a folder while holding the space key and the folder will open immediately.
One-and-a-half clicks (click, click and hold) on a folder will cause it to spring open, allowing you to navigate multiple sub-folders without having to double-click every folder.
Neat operation?
OF COURSE EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT POP UP WINDOWS - Right!!Drag any folder to the bottom of the screen window and it becomes a "Popup Folder".------
Convenient for folders that are "often used".
ON APPLE AND Y2K: Here's how it's likely to be handled:-----Beginning in the year 2000: Two-digit years (mm/dd/yy) can be used as follows: * Years 91-99 will be recognized as being 1991-1999, respectively * Years 00-90 will be recognized as being in the 21st century * For dates in the 20th century prior to 1991, it will be necessary to use four digit dates throughout a file (as described further below). Beginning in the year 2011 * All two digit years will be recognized as being in the 21st century. For dates in the 20th century, it will be necessary to use four digit dates (as described further below).and......
http://www.macnologist.com/y2k/notcompliant.shtml
lists software that is not Y2K compliant on the Mac.
and....
http://www.apple.com/about/year2000/y2khwtests.html
shows Apple's test results for Y2K.
and...
a patch for Emailer's Y2K problem is at
http://www.emailman.com/mac/clients.html
Comment from Tracy at Technotes (see below)
OS 8.6 is out!!!
I can't reveal any details about it, but I've been testing 8.6 for a while now, and I'll say this: in all 22 years of Apple OS upgrades, I have NEVER before encountered one that worked flawlessly with all my INITs and applications, until 8.6. Wow!
BTW, the 8.6 upgrade is free to 8.5 owners.
Expect it soon. Also coming is QuickTime 4.0. I'm only guessing, but I'd guess we'll see them both by the end of the month.
My suggestion for updating to 8.6 is DO IT, do it, do it! (Oh - it's PPC only, as will be all future updates from Apple.)-----
************************************************************* "Just because it CAN be done doesn't mean it SHOULD be done!" Use a little judgement and taste at all times! Courtesy Macintosh.Ideas http://www.pclink.com/~dthomas/ *************************************************************